Fewer Men with Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Are Undergoing Unnecessary Surgery

Over the past 20 years, physicians have increasingly recognized that many men with low-risk prostate cancer can be safely managed with active surveillance, allowing treatment to be delayed or avoided unless the cancer shows signs of becoming more aggressive.

This large study examined nearly 200,000 men who underwent radical prostatectomy between 2010 and 2024.

The investigators found a dramatic decline in the number of men having surgery for cancers that were ultimately shown to be very low risk. This suggests that physicians are becoming better at identifying men who can safely avoid immediate treatment.

Improved imaging, better biopsy techniques, and greater acceptance of active surveillance have all contributed to this positive trend.

The findings are encouraging because they indicate that fewer men are experiencing unnecessary surgery and its potential side effects. At the same time, treatment is increasingly being reserved for patients whose cancers are more likely to require intervention.

JAMA Oncology. 2025.